Tabs

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Book Launch: Belle Cora by Phillip Margulies

I really wanted to participate in the blog tour for Belle Cora by Phillip Margulies, but our schedules didn't jive. But I will be reviewing the book next month, (and I can't wait because it sounds right up my alley), and I wanted to share two cool things Doubleday is doing this month to celebrate the launch!

First, here's the book description:

"I had crossed all the lines they you say you can never cross without being destroyed, and here I was, alive and strong."

In the grand tradition of Moll Flanders and Vanity Fair, this is the story of a good girl who became a bad woman. At the old homestead her name is never spoken and her picture is turned to the wall, but in the vast world beyond everyone remembers her as the celebrated madam of the finest parlor house in San Francisco. Now, at the end of her life, after half a century of successfully hiding the details of her scarlet past, Belle has decided to reveal all her secrets.

In 1838, Arabella Godwin and her beloved younger brother, Lewis, are orphaned and shipped away from their home in New York City to live on their aunt's desolate farm upstate. The comforts she has always known are replaced with grueling work and a pair of cunning enemies in her cousins Agnes and Matthew. Amid this bleak existence, there emerges light in the form of a local boy, Jeptha Talbot. He is everything good that Arabella craves. His love saves her and becomes an obsession that will last her whole life.

Time and again she will be broken and remade. She will bear a gambler’s child, build a fortune, commit murder, leave a trail of aliases in her wake and sacrifice almost everything—though perhaps not enough--for the man whose love she cannot bear to lose. At last her destiny will take her to Gold Rush California, to riches and power.

Until the day she mysteriously disappears.

Told with unflagging wit and verve, Belle Cora brings to life a turbulent era and an untamed America on the cusp of greatness. Its heroine is a woman in conflict with her time, who nevertheless epitomizes it with her fighting spirit, her gift for self-invention, and her determination to chart her own fate.

Next, check out this cool interactive map featuring locales from the book:

Then, head over to Pinterest and pin your extraordinary women for a chance to win a book prize pack!

FTC Compliance

Though it is not always the case, for the sake of expediency, assume that all books reviewed on this site were provided by the author or publisher for voluntary review.

Currently Reading:

Currently Reading:

Writing a Novel?

I am an independent editor and cover designer specializing in historical fiction and romance. Click the pic to learn more about my services and read testimonials from my clients!

Book Reviewers Tell All!

Check out our presentation on book reviews from HNS 2017!

Review Policy

I am currently open to review requests. However, because my reading time is precious, I am very particular about the books I take on for review. I read across all time periods, but I prefer romantic historical fiction and historical romance. I also enjoy historical mysteries and young adult historicals. And I'm always on the lookout for something unique. I also expect high standards of quality. If I am unable to review your book but I think it's one my readers would like to know about, I may offer you an interview or guest post opportunity. I am currently scheduling reviews 2-3 months in advance. If you'd like to submit a review request, please email me a blurb along with links to your website and a sample of the book: JDQ1175@aol.com.

Weekends were made for books and leggings!

I'm a Legging Army affiliate. If you love super-soft, super-cute leggings, I've got you covered! New styles are added weekly, and shipping is free!

Let Them Read Books

Brought to you by Jenny Qaka: The Lady Quinlan

I love books! I love to read books, talk books, smell books, dream books! I love to escape into a different world, but I also like to learn while I'm reading, so historical fiction is a perfect fit for me, and my favorite genre.

I'm also a big fan of traditional fantasy, urban fantasy/paranormal romance, and futuristic/dystopian selections, and my tastes are far-ranging. You will find both Christian fiction and vampire erotica side-by-side on my favorites list!

I welcome friends, followers, opinions, and suggestions, so please make yourself known and then make yourself at home inThe Lady Quinlan's domain!